From: gutsy@dontemailme.com   
      
   In article <2jCRc.14001$cK.10816@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net>,   
   monaco8292@hotmail.com says...   
      
   >    What was the purpose of cowboys wearing a vest   
      
   I've taken the time to peruse photos of "real working   
   cowboys" in several available references and have   
   given it some thought. Here is my conclusion.   
      
   Think about yourself as a cowhand in the saddle   
   most of the day. Where are you going to carry your   
   chaw, tobacco and rolling papers, pocket watch,   
   wallet, or whatever else you carry around on your   
   person? Surely not in your pants pockets - not while   
   you're in the saddle. And shirts either had no pockets   
   at all, or the usual teeny ones found on shirts today.   
   So the vest - or an even heavier coat - with good   
   secure pockets is a necessity for toting along all   
   of your "essentials" as you are go mounted and unmounted   
   throughout and average day.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)